Combined permutation and auxiliary lock for safes



Jan. 17, 1950 E. OQBRIEN 2,494,575

COMBINED PERMUTATION AND,AUXILIARY LOCK FOR SAFES Filed Sept. 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 EUGENE O'BRIEN Filed Sept. 26, 1945 Jane 17, 1956 E. OBRIEN 2,494,575

COMBINED PERMUTATION AND AUXILIARY LOCK FDR SAFES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17, 1950 E. OBRIEN 7 COMBINED PERMUTATION AND AUXILIARY LOCK FOR SAFES Filed Sept. 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mummwi H\ lm FIG. 6

3mm EUGENE O'BRIEN Jan. 17, 1950 E. OBRIQEN 2,494,575

COMBINED PERMUTATION AND AUXILIARY LOCK FOR SAFES Filed Sept. 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7 FIG. 9

awum vbo b EUGENE O'BRIEN \EJCJA J Jam. 1?, 1950 E. OBRIEN 2,494,575

COMBINED PERMUTATION AND AUXILIARY LOCK FOR SAFES Filed Sept. 26, l945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FI-TIG. ll

i atented Jan. 17, 1959 UNITE-D STATES P.

TENT OFFICE COMBINED .PEBMUTATION.ANDAUXILIARY I oc FoRs Fns (Granted .under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April '30 1928; 370 O. .G. .751)

10 Claims.

This invention relates to permutation looks and more particularly to .a new and improved lock structure and operating mechanism.

Heretofore permutation locks have been .;pro-

posed in which manually operable tumblers :are

rotatable to control the movement a .boltoperating fence. The present invention is-.an. improvement on such constructions and provides. a

permutation closure and lock mechanism which is more nearly invulnerable:to.attack.

It is an objectof thepresent.invehtionto pro.- vide a permutation controlled lock construction which offers increased-obstacles to unauthorized operation and yettdoesnotprovide any increased difficulty for :normal operation.

A further object-of the present inventioniisto .provide a permutation .lock whic-h,.thoughsimple and readily constructed, has its parts .enclosed within a portion of the operating mechanism sci-as to foil unauthorized operation thereof.

Still another object is to provide in .combina- .tion, auxiliary and supplemental -.locking.means which are inaccessible iorunauthorized. operation and which serve to prevent manipulationpf the mechanism until the device is operatedaqcording to its proper combination.

An additional-object-is.toprovidaanovel means .for arranging the combination changing .mecha.-. nism whereby this :feature cannot be used -f.or unauthorized opening of the lock.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification .andappended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear-elevation of adoorto which a lock constructed inaccordance with .the present invention haabeen applied andwhereintheparts are shown in lockedposition;

Fig. 2 is a change position viewof aportion of themechanism shown 'in Fig. 1 indie unlocked position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed rearelevationsof a combination lock embodying the present invention; 7

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partly-in section of a permutation .locl: constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the 11001; taken along a line substantially corresponding to line .5-5 of Fig. 3

Fig. 6 is a view similar to-Fig. 5 but .takenalong a line substantially corresponding to linet fi of Fig.3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical side elevation: ofa tumbler constructed in accordance with the present invention;

.Fig. .8 Ba topview ofthe tumbler illustrated in Fig. 7.;

Fig. 9 isa side elevation of the tumbler illus- .,tr,ated.,in-Eig. ,7

Eig. 10is arear elevation .of -.the tumblerillust trated in Fig. '7;

.Fig.,1-1 is a detailed sectional .view of a tumbler takenal ne a line subs an ially corr pon in to line [1-4 lof Fig. ,10;and

.Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the upperhali of .a.tumblcnconstructedin. accordance with the disclosure of Figs. .7lto .11 inclusive show:

i he change c mbina ion mechanism within thetumbler.

Referring to .the drawings detail, ,Fig. .1 illustrates .the .reanofca safe door or otherclosure which embodies the present invention and ,is

shown to comprise he oor .20 which may .be

hinged along the .left sidebrotherwise suitably mounted, and is provided with a plurality .of

radially extendable adoor bolts -Z| .whicharepperated in guide members {-22 secured .to the door .Qrankarms as illustrated,,f,or operation in unison .into locked and .unlockedpositions by .means ofa manually voperable handle.,2 3 .whichrotate latch Plate 2 1 ,for this purpose.

.The mechanism. for transmitting the door open.- ingforce from thelatch plate Zittothedoorbolts 2 :m v eo an d siredconstruction. Howe er, it is preferred to provide ,a .linkmeans whereby one ,linkarm. engages with .anoutwardly extending post :25 .whichissecured .fonrotation .with a lock. chamber ..,enc1os ing sleeve 2,6 whereby .movemeritv of the operating handle 2,3 must .rotate .the sleevezfi abouttheloch chamber.

The present invention includes, :in combination with the door .bolt .actuating mechanism aforesaid, :a permutation controlled means for freeing the latch .plate .2 3 .f or rotation and, simultaneously freeing the .lock chamber enclosing sleeve 26, bothlof which must .be actuat d inthe proper fashion to eiiil-zxctv arelease ofiatch platel l.

In .Fig. l the plate. 24 .is shown. latched in .place by .means of the terminal endl'l of aiongitudi- .nally slidablelock bolt .28, which en -21 ism ved from rthe pathlof ncitement .of the .latch plate nly by longit dinal .movemen of the bol 42.8. The movemrgntotthelock bolt 28 ispontrolledhy the permutationcontrolled mechanism .hereinafter set forth.

.In addition, though-fined byithe bolt.2 8 the latch p ate .24 and associated mechanism still .cann t be operated until the lock chamber enclosing sleeve 26 is freed by internally actuated lock pins in the manner hereinafter set forth, so as to Permit bodily rotation of the sleeve and consequent movement of the linkage to unlock the safe door.

Fig. 2 illustrates the parts in a changed position with the lock bolt 28 retracted and the Sleeve 26 rotated to move the door latching mechanism into unlocked position.

The details of the permutation controlled lock forming part of the present invention are set forth in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, and as there illustrated the bolt 28 is slidably mounted in a suitable bearing block 29 which is provided with a pair of transversely extending openings 30 through which, in installation, cap screws 3| are inserted to hold the bearing block 29 in place. Screw receiving openings 32 in the bolt 28 permit cap screws 3| to be installed when the bolt is in the unlocked position. It will be apparent that the longitudinal movement of the bolt incident to locking the safe covers the openings 30 in the block and prevents unauthorized tampering with the cap screws 3! while the safe is locked.

The bolt 28 has an offset portion 33 which extends over the rear of the combination lock mechanism and is provided with a cam pin 34 adapted to engage with and ride into a spirally shaped cam slot 35 formed in the rear face of a rotatable drive tumbler 36.

Drive tumbler 36 is keyed to the rear end of a manually operable dial shaft 39 which extends through the door and is provided at its outer end with the usual graduated combination dial 38 of the character well known in the art. Intermediate the ends of the dial shaft 31 may be located an enlargement 39 which constitutes an abutment to prevent unauthorized tampering along the path of the shaft 31'.

The combination lock illustrated in the present embodiment comprises a stationary lock housing 4!! which may be secured to the rear of the door 20 by means of holding screws 4i and may be centrally apertured to receive the axially extending dial shaft 31. About the central aperture may be located a rearwardly extending tumbler supporting sleeve 42 about which three spaced tumblers A, B, and C, are shown disposed and these tumblers are free to rotate, hindered only by the frictional engagement of tumbler friction rings 42A and tumbler retaining ring 43, all of 4 41 surroundin the bolt 28 adjacent bearing block 29 normally urges the bolt into unlocked position.

In addition to the fence and gate lock mechanism aforesaid, there is provided in the present invention a plurality of additional or supplementary lock means operated by the individual tumblers A, B, and C, which comprise the bodily rotatable lock chamber enclosing ring 26 which serve to space the tumblers and retain them in place in the manner illustrated.

Protruding from the inner face of the drive tumbler 36 is a tumbler engaging pin 36A which protrudes into a drive slot 44 in the adjacent face of tumbler A and engages a centralizing ring to drive the tumbler in the manner hereinafter set forth in detail. Each tumbler may be provided with a similar pin so that rotation of drive tumbler 36 through the usual lost motion means including the centralizing ring in each tumbler serves to rotate the tumblers until finally the motion is transmitted to tumbler C which is then set to the desired position. Next, the direction of rotation of dial 38 is reversed until the second tumbler, tumbler B, is likewise set in the desired position. A final reversal is then made until tumbler A is set in the desired position and, when so arranged, fence posts 45, controlling movement of the bolt 28, are permitted to enter aligned gates 46 in the periphery of the individual tumblers A, B, and C. A coiled lock bolt spring disposed about the outside of the lock case which ring in installation is moved bodily over the rear end of the housing 40 of the lock until springbiased retainer plunger 43 (Fig. 3) snaps into an interior annular retainer groove 49 extending around the inner surface of the sleeve 26. For removal purposes a small access opening 56 is provided through the sleeve 26 and in the removal operation this opening is first aligned with the plunger 48 and a suitable tool then inserted to depress the plunger and free it from the groove 49. As illustrated this opening 56 is located out of alignment with the plunger when the device is in locked position.

The auxiliary lock means of the present embodiment includes a plurality of split pins each having a portion slidable in the sleeve 26 and individually operable by the adjacent tumbler to move the split portion into registry with the point of separation between the sleeve 26 and the stationary lock casing 46. As shown, these split pins may be several in number and include split parts 5| and 51A located in the upper portion of the lock body and 52 and 52A disposed in the lower portion of the lock body. Each of these pins is spring-biased as illustrated and is provided at its inner end with a reduced stem which is engageable by the pin operating means. These stems are engageable by eccentrically disposed offset cam portions 54 on each of the tumblers A, B, and C.

A secondary lock is also provided in the form of another split pin 53-53A of similar construction and its operating stem is engageable by the terminal end 33A of the ofiset portion 33 of the slidable bolt 28 when the bolt reaches the extreme unlocked position.

The unlocking of ring 26 by the action of the split-pin 53-53A permits ring 26 to rotate around the lock-housing 40 and permits the movement of radial arm 25 which is attached to ring 26 and to the latch mechanism. It will be seen that unless the split-pin 5353A is moved by the off-set portion 33A of the bolt 28, the latching mechanism will not be released. Means for limiting the rotary movement of the ring 26 and of positioning the split-pin 53-53A in the locked position is accomplished by adjustment of the stop 25A.

It will be noted that with the above construction and arrangement there is provided in addition to the positive fence and gate lock mechanism, auxiliary lock means and secondary lock means in the form of split pins operable by the several tumblers and also operable by movement of the bolt to its extreme position, all of which lock means must be released in order to permit operation of the door unlatching mechanism.

The combination changing mechanism illustrated in the enlarged views of the tumblers comprising Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive may be operated in the usual manner by a square shank key which is insertable through keyholes 55. In order to minimize the possibility of unauthorized entry by aligning the gates 46 in the tumblers A, B, and C, by means of the use of instruments through"theikezszhcilesi55,theangle !aszindicated in Fig. may be varied on .each e'ccentrictdisc tumbler A, B,-a'nd C,.so that when :the keyhnles 55 are aligned, the gates 4-6 are :out of alignment The :use of 'thechange key permits a relative rotation :between the inner ring portion 56 and theouter ring portion :5?! of *the' cam. 'The inner ring 56 carries :a laterally projecting centralizing ring engaging zstop 'pin '58 and the -opposite face of'the inner ring is recessed to receive :a .centralizingmingi59 having .a protnudingtring lug-=60 for 'engagement'with the stop .pin'58 of theladjacent tumbler in the :customary manner.

'Therserrations 6l on theouter portion of the inner ring member 56 are *engageable "by the toothed outer end 62 of .alever '63 .pivotedat 6! and :having a resilient portion 65 in-engagement with the casing of the tumbler. The opposite end :of this lever is operable torelease the toothed outerend=62 from the serrationsand permit relative rctationof the tumbler'parts .by rotation -:of axkey receiving cam 66.

With the staggered arrangement of the gates with respect to the keyholes 55 it is necessary :to have combination changing code in order to make a change in the combination. The procedure is as follows:

1. Open safe door.

2. Turn door handle to closed position.

23. Turn dial clockwise to lock the lockandcontinue turning in same direction until the proper procedure for setting the original first number has been completed.

4. Refer to code, which will give the correct number of divisions to continue turning after eachoriginal number has been reached.

5. Continue setting procedure for originalnumher and continue turnings as given in code sheet.

6. When this procedure has been carried through and all three settings'have been made, insert the change 'key and turn counter-clockwise until it stops. This action disengages the toothed outer end of lever 63 from the serrations 6! on the inner ring 56, permitting repositioning of the stop pin 56 with respect to the gate of the tumbler.

'7. Choosing whatever numbers are desired to be used as a new combination, refer again to the code, and proceed exactly as outlined in steps i'or aligning keyholes.

-8. Turn change 'key clockwise to original posi-- tion and remove. New combination has now been set for numbers chosen in step 7.

Factors which lower the security of the widely used'dial operated safe lock are its vulnerability to picking by gaining access to the front or rear of the look through drilling, and safetyor relocking devices which depend upon the intruder achieving his purpose in a certain way.

"While maintaining the fundamental principles used'in the conventional dial operatedlocktha't of rotating disk tumblers providing blocks and entries for a movable bolt which looks the door, and a numbered dial for operating purposes, the lock of the present invention, as above described, departs from that design in several respects.

First: Vulnerability to picking has been lowereiiby staggering the change key openings. The change key method of changing safe combinations is widely used. A weakness has'been that the openings through which the key passes'in each tumbler are so arranged that when they are aligned the gates in the tumbler are aligned with thel' fence making possible "the use of -'instrmnen'ts to pick the lock. The use 1101 a staggeredfikeyhole,

that lplacing. "the. :key. aopening r-in successive tumblers atadifleren't angular alocationsabout .the :centerzoi the tumblers 'with .respect .to the-gate. as texpla'ined previously, will eliminate this methodeof dockvpicking.

Second: Vulnerability to picking has been reducediby the use "of. concealed gates. The converitional isafe ilock tumbler zas lcommonly .used visible ropenings as :gates for the .entry :of the fence iwhichroperates the lock bolt. This visibile ityiis a weaknessiwhichzmay permit unauthorized entry by drilling and picking either .by. -sight or :by instruments. Even though the rear tumbler is sometimes concealed'by the hinged fence which operates :the bolt, it is still possible to pick by sight or instrument if a Ebit of patience is exercised. And'awhil'e the front-tumbler is coveredby a dial, a hole drilled .at an angle will expose .the

gates to wiewxzor :feel :by instrument. The tumblers ref-the present iinuentionthave their ,gates conne'aledxbehind a strong shoulder. If drilling trom the' front of the :safe is resorted "12001115 33118 :i'lrst :gate is-visible. .The shoulder ofzeach tumbler from that point on serves-as a block to iurtheripicking. :l romtthe:rear of the safe, as from the r-rent, -no gates are visible .at .any time even when near at hand.

' Third: Vulnerability reduced by the previs'ion-pf zap-minimum clearance :hetween disk :tumblerszand lockrcase. "The conventional safe lock case is of rectangular construction, :having consiiierable clearance between the :outer diameter (if the =iisk tumblers and the.;inside walls of the look case. "This allows :considerable opportunity for pickmg either from Jiront or rear, but is neeessitat'ed by a 'hinged motion of the fence which operateslthe locking' bar,:since this hinge isiplaced within the loek case. The design of the present invention *provides .but .very little clearance between the tumblers and lt'h'e tumbler case, .replaces "the usual "hinged fence with a combined rigid locking bar and fence as shown, and reduces the-s'ize of'thegatesinthe tumblers through which the fence must-pass to open the lock.

Eourtlr: Vulnerability is reduced by making the part fastenings inaccessible in locked position. Many locks'of conventional designhave a lock case mover fastened by screws. This cover eonceals the tumblers. If the cover is successfully removed the lock can easily be picked. Others have covers to which the tumblers themselves are attached, and ii the cover is successtully removed the tumblers are also removed. T=In-either=casethe=lock-can be'picked. In the present device it "is impossible to remove any .part 50f the lock unti'l 'the bolt-is in its retracted position, exposing the holisling screws and allowing :access to the tunilc'ilers.

As part of the present invention there :is' provided an auxiliarylocking device, mechanically connected to the primary lock and operating automatically each time it isopened-and closed. This-includes thecam tracks on the 'di-sktumblers which tracks contact twosets-of split-pin tumblers installed in the auxiliary locking device. Two opposed sets are "used'in order to equalize "spring pressure and prevent the possibility of sensing pressure while dialing. It will also be notedthat the .pos-itions of the eccentrics for opening the pin tumblers have been set at the .high .andlow points to avoid the possibility .of recurring opening positions. Positions have been alternated-to minimize .still :further whatever slight possibility of :feelragamst pringxpressure .might exist.

There is also provided a secondary safety lock, which acts as an anti-pick device and prevents any attempt to feel the tumblers above described by exerting pressure against the door handle. This secondary safety lock is not opened until the lock bolt 28 is in full unlocked position. This look also has a split pin which in this case is operated by the end of the bolt as it is moved into final unlocked position. The spring of this pin is preferably much stronger than other split pin springs in order to prevent picking from a distance by instrument.

-While a particular embodiment of the invention is shown, it will be understood, of. course, that it is not desired to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a permutation lock for a closure wherein a closure latch operating handle may be secured by a slidable bolt, a cylindrical permutation lock enclosing housing, a rotatable sleeve disposed around the housing and linked to the closure latch operating means to limit operation thereof, a series of tumblers within the housing, the tumblers having fence receiving openings therein, a bolt mounted adjacent the lock housing and having a fence portion extending within the housing, a tumbler operating member, means mounted upon the bolt and engageable with the tumbler operating member for retracting or extending the bolt when the fence receiving openings in the tumblers are aligned with the fence, and separate sleeve lock means for limiting rotation of the sleeve about the cylinder when the fence receivingopenings are out of alignment.

-2. A permutation lock for a theftproof closure latch comprising, a stationary lock housing, a plurality of tumblers mounted within the lock housing, said tumblers each having a fence receiving gate therein, a :bolt having a fence aligned with the gates in the tumblers when the tumblers are adjusted into unlocked position, a sleeve rotatable about the lock housing, said sleeve being interconnected with the closure latching mechanism, and lock means separate from the bolt for securing the sleeve against rotation.

3. A permutation lock for a theftproof closure comprising, a stationary casing, a plurality of tumblers mounted within the casing and each having a fence receiving opening, means for manipulating said tumblers for aligning the openings therein with a fence, a bolt having a fence portion adjacent said openings, and means operated by the tumbler manipulating means for retracting and extending the bolt, each of the tumblers being provided with an eccentrically contoured peripheral margin, and each of said peripheral margins being in alignment with a tumbler pin and operable by rotation to move the pin into an unlocked position simultaneously with'the alignment of the fence receiving openings with the fence.

4. A permutation lock for a theftproof closure comprising, a stationary housing, a plurality of tumblersmounted within the housing, each havinghrfencerece'iving gate therein, a bolt having afence portion, means for manipulating said tumblers to align the gates with the fence, means includng the tumbler manipulation means for moving the bolt upon alignment of the gates with the fence, a lock sleeve rotatable about the housing, lock pins movable to control rotation of the lock sleeve, the tumblers each having a con-. toured periphery in alignment with a tumbler pin and operable to move the same into an unlocked position simultaneously with the alignment of the fence receiving gates with fence.

'5. A permutation lock for a theftproof closure ccmprising,..a stationary housing, a plurality of tumblers mounted within the housing, and hav-. ing; fence receiving gates therein, a bolt having a fence portion, means for manipulating said tumblersto align thegates with the fence, means operated by the tumbler manipulating means for moving the bolt upon alignment of the gates with the fence, a lock sleeve rotatable about the house ing, lock pins movable to control rotation of the lock sleeve, the tumblers each having a contoured periphery in alignment with a tumbler pin and operable to move the same into an un-. locked position simultaneously with the alignment of the fence receiving gates with fence, and a separate. tumbler pin assembly operable by opening movement of the slidable bolt to unlock the lock sleeve.

6. In a permutation lock for a tamperproof closure wherein a closure latch operating handle is provided for moving closure latch members into and out of locked position, the combination with said members of, a movement inhibiting ring, a permutation lock having an exterior casing about which the movement inhibiting ring rotates, and 'means operable by the permutation loc'rmechanism and cooperating with the ring to inhibit relative rotation therebetween and control the movement of the closure locking mechanism.

7. In a permutation controlled tamperproof closure having a latch mechanism operable to latched and unlatched position the combination of, means for operating the latch mechanism, a bolt operable to prevent movement of the latch mechanism, permutation controlled means to control the movement of the bolt, a housing enclosing said permutation controlled means, and auxiliary locking means acting upon the latch mechan sm independently of the bolt, said auxiliary locking means comprising, a sleeve rotatable about the housing, and sleeve locking means operable by the permutation lock mechanism to secure the sleeve against relative latch mechanism unlockingmovement.

8. A permutation controlled lock comprising, a lock housing, a plurality of tumblers mounted within the housing, each of said tumblers having a gate, a fence mounted for movement within the gate when aligned therewith, each of the tumblers being of multipart construction, a connection between the parts of the tumblers to permit a change in the relative location of the gate, said tumblers being arranged to permit simultaneous manipulation by a combination changing key when the gates are out of alignment with the fence and prevent manipulation by said key when the gates are in aligned relationship.

9. A permutation controlled lock comprising, a lock housing, a plurality of rotatable tumblers located within the housing, a bolt having a fenceportion movable into the housing, at least oneof the tumblers having an outer portion with a fence receiving gate and an inner portion with a movement transmitting pin protruding therefrom, means for permitting relative adjustment between the outer and inner portions including a change combination look, a key receiving opening in each tumbler to receive a combination change key, the key receiving opening of the several tumblers being out of alignment when the gates are in relative alignment.

10. A permutation lock comprising, a lock mechanism including a plurality of manually operable tumblers, each of the tumblers having a fence post receiving gate therein, and a change combination mechanism in each of the tumblers including a change key receiving opening, the change key receiving openings of adjacent tumblers being arranged to be out of alignment when the fence post receiving gates are in alignment.

EUGENE OBRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 664,582 Rikard Dec. 25, 1900 901,116 Murphy Oct. 13, 1908 904,302 Bossert Nov. 17, 1908 1,437,561 Shively Dec. 5, 1922 1,572,449 Sledge Feb. 9, 1926 1,604,866 Wildrick Oct. 26, 1926 1,956,304 Abbott et al Apr. 24, 1934 

